The Kuno-Palpur sanctuary is found to be the most suitable site
for relocation of Asiatic Lions from Gir forests,
Gujarat. The Minister of State (I/C) for Environment & Forests Smt. Jayanthi Natarajan stated in Lok sabha today that wildlife
Institute of India carried out a survey for identifying potential sites for
relocation of Asiatic lions to alternative areas outside Gir,
Gujarat. Three sites, namely Darrah Wildlife
Sanctuary, JawaharSagar Sanctuary, and Sitamata Wildlife Sanctuary in Rajasthan and Kuno-Palpur Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh were identified for
lion introduction. Out of these four, Kuno-Palpur
Sanctuary was found to be the most suitable site on account of its area, shape
and vegetation. In its report submitted
in 1995, the Wildlife Institute of India recommended the following actions to
be taken up before relocating lions to the area:
(i)
Complete
acceptance of the proposal for lion relocation by the concerned State
Governments, as well as the Central Government;
(ii)
Initiating
an awareness and eco-development scheme in the Kuno-Palpur
area to elicit support and participation of location community to the
relocation of lions;
(iii)
Establishment of the Kuno
National Park over an area of approximately 700 sq. km. involving translocation
of all human settlements from the National Park area and stoppage of livestock
grazing therein;
(iv)
Establishing
a special team of adequately trained forest department personnel to implement
the scheme and to ensure adequate protection to the area;
(v)
Undertaking
habitat improvement measures including weed removal, and enhancing the
availability and distribution of water;
(vi)
Augmentation
of the resident wild ungulate population by additional release of chital and nilgai to build up an adequate prey base for the
reintroduced lions.
Smt.
Natarajan added that The Ministry of Environment and
Forests has so far released an amount of Rs. 1545.00 lakh to the State
Government of Madhya Pradesh for rehabilitation of 1545 families from the Kuno-Palpur Sanctuary. An amount of
Rs. 168.435 lakhs has been released during the last
three years to the State Government of Madhya Pradesh to take up various
measures for improvement of habitat and management of the Sanctuary. The Minister
however clarified that no specific time limit has been fixed for the relocation
of lions.
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DK